Construction Staking

JoeC · Post by **JoeC** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 1:12 pm

Driving through a State project I noticed the Caltrans Survey Crew using plastic strips (see attached) to write down the stakeout information. I thought what a great idea. Where do I get some? It is pretty easy to write down information on a lath but on the pavement it is very difficult and could become very hard to read. These plastic strips can be stapled to lath or nailed to the pavement. They even come in different colors.

Caltrans really out did themselves on this one. Something so simple...

Talking to the survey crew they said they get these from CAL-PIA (State Prison).

Does anyone use something like this or is it still a lath and a sharpie?

Thanks Joe

E_Page · Post by **E_Page** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:19 pm

CA Prison Industries makes them. I believe that only government entities can order through PI, but I'm not certain of that.

I've never seen them offered by a private manufacturer.

Dave Karoly, PLS · Post by **Dave Karoly, PLS** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:04 pm

Here is the web page for the cards:
http://catalog.pia.ca.gov/store.php?t=1316894726

According to the about page the Penal Code prohibits the PIA (Prison Industry Authority) from selling to the general public. You have to be a government agency. Actually State agencies are required to buy it from the PIA if they offer it (whatever the product you need is). We don't have to buy from them if they can't fill the order due to whatever reason (prison riot, for example). Generally PIA products are expensive and the Agency would prefer to be able to purchase from a private vendor.

Anthony Maffia · Post by **Anthony Maffia** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:51 am

I've seen them in use by private surveyors in the Bay Area, but have no idea where to get them. Obviously, they don't say "caltrans" on them.

E_Page · Post by **E_Page** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:01 pm

Anthony Maffia wrote:I've seen them in use by private surveyors in the Bay Area, but have no idea where to get them. Obviously, they don't say "caltrans" on them.

When I worked for El Dorado County, we got them from PIA and they did not have the Caltrans label. I think that they make some for Caltrans, and they make some without any agency "brand" labels for use by other public agencies.

It's likely that the private crew you saw using them was using them as consultants on a public contract, or the cards were surplus material not used up on a previous public contract.

Jim Frame · Post by **Jim Frame** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:54 pm

JoeC's original post piqued my curiosity, so I nosed around the 'net looking for writeable plastic labels. There are lots of them out there from many different vendors, but I wasn't able to find any that I'd consider cheap. I think the lowest price I saw for something in the 3"x6" size range was $0.23. That's certainly doable if you have a definite need for them, but not a cost you'd want to impose on a large staking project just because they're kind of cool.

The PIA price of a nickel apiece is more like it, but I didn't see anything priced that low.

.

JoeC · Post by **JoeC** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:09 pm

Thanks everyone.

So the way I'm taking this - most of us still use a lath and sharpie. How about asphalt or concrete surfaces? Do you paint the information on the ground or just the STA # and provide the contractor with a cut sheet?

The reason I ask is, I just learned that our municipality requires all the paint be removed from the project area before they file a notice of completion on the project. That could be a lot of paint and an added cost to the contractor.

Just curious what's being used and is there a industry standard?

Thanks again..